He retraced his steps in the store and raced to the lost-and-found department, but nothing turned up.

Outside on Lexington Avenue, Slatkin suddenly got a call from American Express -- with good news. A couple found his wallet on a scarf display. They asked a store manager to put it in a safe and called American Express, which contacted the owner.

Back at Bloomingdale's, the couple handed Slatkin his wallet, and he insisted on giving them a $300 reward. He also invited them to use the indoor pool of his Upper East Side apartment building.